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Highlights

Experience one of the hidden gems of of Rome on our Catacombs Tour.
Hop on our minibus to explore the beautiful sights of the Ancient Appian Way, the Roman Empire's “Queen of Roads”, recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Admission to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano is included in your ticket, complete with a guided tour! The bus departs from Stop #1 (Termini Train Station), journeying for 45 minutes to the Catacombs of San Sebastian, where you can join the guided tour and then explore nearby sites independently before hopping back on the bus to return to Termini.

Please visit our Service Information page for the Catacombs Tour timetable.

Journey to the Catacombs

Travel the Ancient Appian Way on our exclusive Big Bus Purple Route

Discover the ancient Appian Way and head for the Catacombs of San Sebastiano on our Purple Route. This bus route collects you from Stop #1 (Termini) and journeys south along the Appian Way, recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour passes the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Caffarella Park, the catacombs of St. Callixtus and Domitilla, and the ruins of the Caracalla Baths. The journey to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano is approximately 45 minutes if you don't hop off the bus. During the journey you can listen to customised commentary via your own phone and headphones - this is available via an exclusive VOX app download code, supplied when you redeem your ticket. For more information, please visit our Purple Route Timetable Page.

Explore the Catacombs of San Sebastiano

On an immersive guided tour.

On arrival at the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, you'll have the option to take a guided tour, which is included with your ticket. The tour will lead you on a descent into the 3rd-century catacombs, a mysterious subterranean cemetery featuring crypts, frescoes, loculi and cubicles, all unique to the arts and culture of Ancient Rome. Tours are available in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian, with guides ready to share captivating stories and secrets about the catacombs. Departure times vary according to language, so please visit our Service Information page to see the full timetable.

The Ancient Appian Way

Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Appian Way, or Via Appia Antica, is one of Rome's hidden gems, and was only recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2024. As the Roman Empire's 'Queen of Roads', this important route epitomised the engineering brilliance of Ancient Rome, and it still retains many original features, along with close proximity to important tombs and monuments. You'll enjoy excellent views of these from the bus, but we recommend allowing yourself time to explore the area further after your Catacombs Tour. The Baths of Caracalla, Villa di Massenzio and Cecilia Metella Mausoleum are all fascinating places to visit, and bike tours are available. Speak to our friendly Big Bus Tours staff for more information or to book tickets.

Important Information

About the Catacombs Tour Package.

Before purchasing your ticket, please take note of the below information:
Bus: the bus departs from Stop #1 (Termini Train Station). Please present your ticket to a Big Bus Tours Staff Member before boarding. The journey to and from the Catacombs is approximately 45 minutes if you do not hop off.
Bus Audioguide: a QR code to download the VOX City app to your phone and access a customised audioguide for the bus journey will be supplied to you when you take the tour. Please note that headphones are not supplied.
Catacombs: the Catacombs are not wheelchair accessible and are unsuitable for those with claustrophobia or walking difficulties due to insurmountable architectural barriers like uneven steps and underground terrain, narrow passages, lack of seating and lack of elevators. The temperature is approximately 17°C with high humidity, so it is recommended that you dress appropriately, both for your comfort and to respect the sacred nature of the Catacombs. Please note that the following is not permitted in the Catacombs: photos and videos, animals, smoking, food, drinks, luggage, entry without an internal guide. Toilet facilities and places to purchase food and drink are available outside the Catacombs.

Free Mobile App

Now with live bus arrival times!

Download our free mobile app for the perfect pocket companion to your sightseeing adventure. Our new live bus arrival times feature shows you exactly where the bus is along the route, along with an ETA for your nearest stop! This gives you the freedom to make the most of your time exploring. In addition to live bus arrival times, you'll also get detailed maps and route information, stop images, walking directions, facts about famous landmarks and attractions, ticket offers and more. Save memory-making minutes on your city adventure with the Big Bus Tours App!

Check Service

Plan ahead for your tour with our service updates.

Visit our Service Information Page for up-to-date information about our current service.

1 Route

Catacombs Tour (Purple Route)

Our sightseeing tour of Rome offers insight into the city’s rich past and contemporary culture with informative, pre-recorded commentary. Throughout the tour you can hop on and hop off to explore Rome’s famous landmarks and attractions at your own pace.

  • Stadium of Domitian
  • Rome Airport Bus
  • Villa Borghese gardens
  • Altar of the Fatherland Elevator
  • Castel Sant'Angelo
  • Baths of Diocletian
  • Capitoline Museums
  • Dorothy Circus Gallery
  • Pantheon Entrance with Digital Audioguide
  • Nazionale d'Arte Antica
  • Vatican Museums
  • Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli
  • Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
  • Pantheon
  • Roman Forum
  • St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs
  • Galleria Borghese
  • Quirinal Palace
  • Piazza Venezia & Altare della Patria
  • Termini Station
  • Trajan's Market
  • Trevi Fountain
  • Piazza del Campidoglio
  • Vatican City
  • Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
  • Castel Sant Angelo
  • Palatine Hill & Museum
  • Piazza Navona
  • Circus Maximus
  • Spanish Steps
  • Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums Guided Tour
  • Colosseum
  • St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Trajan’s Column
  • Campo de' Fiori
  • Colosseum Information Kiosk

1

Termini Railway Station Via Giovanni Giolitti, 32
First Stop 09:35
Last Stop 14:20
Termini Railway Station

2

Colosseum Via di San Gregorio (bus stop outside Roman Forum entrance)
First Stop 09:55
Last Stop 14:48
Colosseum

3

Caffarella Park Via Appia Antica, 72-74, 00179 Roma
First Stop 10:05
Last Stop 14:58

4

Catacombs & Church of San Sebastiano Via Appia Antica, 136, 00179, Roma
First Stop 10:09
Last Stop 15:02

5

Fosse Ardeatine Vicolo delle Sette Chiese
First Stop 10:13
Last Stop 15:06

6

Baths of Caracalla Viale Guido Baccelli
First Stop 10:19
Last Stop 15:14

7

Circo Massimo Piazzale Ugo La Malfa
First Stop 10:25
Last Stop 15:20
Circo Massimo

Big Bus Tours is the largest operator of open-top bus sightseeing tours in the world, providing sightseeing tours in 22 cities across four continents.

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